Familiarize yourself with Piaget’s concept of egocentrism—the notion that an individual believes everyone else must think, see, hear, feel, and experience the world just as they do. Even as adults, many of our assumptions about those we work and live with result from egocentric tendencies. If we have particular opinions, values, or expectations, we often function as though others share those same notions. Not until we are met with disappointment or shock do we come to realize (if we even do) that just because we looked at something from a particular point of view, that not everyone did.
1. Recall experiences you have had with adults who believe the same thing. It may be someone else, or it may even be you!
2. What kinds of societal consequences this type of egocentric behavior might have (think about the country or the world)?